LAHORE, Dec 9: An appellate bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned for Dec 16 the hearing of the appeal of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, the former chief minister of the Punjab, because of the absence of the NAB counsel.

The bench comprised Justices Tassadaq Husain Jilani and Asif Saeed Khosa.

Mr Wattoo submitted that he had paid Rs11.6 million under plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in three references but he was disqualified for 10 years for contesting elections.

He submitted that the references were filed against him under the Accountability Act 1997 and the NAB Ordinance was not applicable on him under which he was disqualified.

He requested the court to declare his conviction and disqualification as illegal.—APP